Chapter 86: Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry

For the next few days, Li Xiao led his army to continue sweeping the area, preparing to snatch as many cattle, sheep, supplies, and women as possible from the Naiman steppe to take back.

Unfortunately, the local Naiman tribes had run far away long ago.

In the end, only a Naiman tribe coming from the southern Gobi was discovered by the scouts under Li Xiao’s command.

“The war has been fought to this point, yet there is still a Naiman tribe heading north without fearing death?” Li Xiao said in surprise.

The position where the army was currently located was already in the southern part of Naiman territory.

There was no choice—the tribes in the west had either been destroyed or had fled long ago. Li Xiao could only lead his men south to try their luck.

However, the time left for him to scavenge freely was running out; tomorrow morning, he had to return to the Khitan main camp to deal with the upcoming decisive battle.

“Looking at the direction they are traveling, it is the Naiman Khan’s Court. They should have come in response to Tayang Khan’s conscription,” Dahu said in a low voice while sitting on his horse nearby.

Li Xiao nodded lightly. The Northern Frontier Army was waiting for the arrival of Buiruk Khan’s army, and Tayang Khan was also constantly drafting soldiers from various tribes.

Both sides were silently accumulating strength, preparing for the final decisive battle.

And striking to destroy the gathering Naiman forces was also Li Xiao’s mission.

“A tribe of over two thousand people—that’s still a fat sheep,” Li Xiao muttered.

Immediately, his face darkened as he ordered, “Relay the order to all units: resolve the battle before dark.”

“Yes, sir!”

The various units began to mobilize, preparing to launch an encirclement campaign against this Naiman tribe.

This was a Naiman tribe that originally lived at the foot of the Altai Mountains in the Gobi.

A month ago, they received an order from Tayang Khan to draft three hundred young men from the tribe to go to the Altai Mountains to participate in the war against the Liao State.

They were also to help escort a batch of important military ordinance to the Altai Mountains.

Thus, the entire tribe began to migrate northward.

Although only the men were drafted, they couldn’t leave the old, the weak, women, and children behind alone. With such a great distance, they were afraid of their home being raided.

So, the entire tribe of more than two thousand people marched mightily toward the direction of the Altai Mountains.

It took them more than half a month to reach the central region.

Logically speaking, they weren’t too late; after all, under normal circumstances, it was normal for a war to last several months.

But halfway there, they suddenly received news that the Altai Mountains had already fallen.

Tayang Khan ordered them to assemble in the direction of the Khan’s Court.

Hearing this news, the Naiman people were instantly stunned.

When did the Naiman army become so vulnerable?

There was no helping it.. the mission still had to be completed. So, this tribe began to turn and advance toward the Royal Court.

But little did they know, they were stepping into the abyss one step at a time.

Just as they were walking onto a stretch of grassland, the horses in the tribe were the first to become restless, snorting in low voices.

Immediately afterward, the flock of sheep also began to scatter in panic. Faintly, a low rumbling sound could be heard, becoming clearer and clearer.

The Naiman people who grew up on the steppe were too familiar with this situation—this was a massive herd of horses charging.

There were at least several thousand men.

The leader of the tribe was named Buermahei. His face immediately became grave as he shouted for the herdsmen to be alert and prepare for battle.

“Could it be the Khan Court’s direct Ten Thousand Cavalry?”

“We are already close to the Khan’s Court here. Only the Khan’s army could have such momentum,” Buermahei said with a solemn voice.

He looked toward a man beside him. This was an official from the Royal Court named Guerba.

He had gone to Western Xia on Tayang Khan’s orders.

Buermahei’s tribe was also under orders to protect Guerba and a batch of important military ordinance on their way to the Altai Mountains.

“It must be the Khan Court’s Ten Thousand Cavalry. It must be that Tayang Khan has some major operation again,” Guerba said confidently as he listened to the approaching hoofbeats.

This was already the Naiman heartland. Only the Khan’s Court could organize such a large-scale cavalry army.

As for the Liao people?

Although they had breached the Altai Mountains, Guerba believed that the Liao people’s losses must have been significant as well; it was impossible for them to reach the Khan’s Court so quickly.

“What is the Khan Court’s great army going to do? The Liao army is to the west!” Buermahei said, puzzled.

“Perhaps they are preparing to detour to the Southern Gobi to poke the Liao people’s backsides,” Guerba laughed loudly.

“Have the herdsmen drive the sheep aside. Do not block the path of the Khan Court’s great army.”

Watching Guerba’s relaxed demeanor, Buermahei, as the tribal leader, maintained his calm.

Looking into the distance with a grave face and feeling the vibration of the earth beneath his feet, the uneasiness in his heart grew stronger.

Years of nomadic hunting experience told him that this matter was not that simple.

Thus, he hurriedly dispatched a few cavalrymen to go ahead and check the situation, to ask clearly whether it really was the Khan Court’s army.

As the roaring sound became louder and louder, Buermahei finally saw the shadow of this army.

Under the illumination of the sun, this army was sprinkled with a layer of holy brilliance—one could only see a mass of black shadows.

“This is definitely Tayang Khan’s Imperial Guard Ten Thousand Cavalry—only they could have such an imposing manner!” Guerba laughed loudly as he watched the approaching army.

Even now, he still believed that the approaching force was the Khan Court’s Imperial Guard.

Aside from this army, there wasn’t a single cavalry unit in the entirety of Naiman territory that could march with such speed yet maintain such stability.

But there was no such optimism in Buermahei’s heart.

Especially since the few cavalrymen he had sent to scout the situation were currently turning back frantically.

They were still shouting loudly: “It’s the Liao people!”

“Prepare for battle!”

Hearing these shouts, Buermahei’s eyes widened. His face instantly became hideous and terrifying as he said in rage.

“Damn it, it’s the Liao people.”

And Guerba beside him was also immediately stunned, wearing a look of disbelief as he muttered.

“Liao… Liao State… Army?”

“Impossible…”

Immediately afterward, they finally saw the appearance of this army clearly. Although they also wore sheepskin coats, their attire was definitely not Naiman.

That onrushing aura made the herdsmen, who had lived in comfort for many years, feel the scent of death. Despair began to spread.

“Prepare for battle—” Buermahei roared violently.